Beware Russia, energy superpower

Posted by Matt in January 16th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Oil, Russia

Putin’s control of oil and gas may bring the West to its knees.
In a world concerned with terrorism, genocide and nuclear-powered despots, Vladimir Putin’s Russia is assembling an economic machine powerful enough to force Europe, the US and Asia to their knees.
It does not involve uranium, explosives or suicide bombers, but the natural resources that [...]

Russia Delivers Missiles to Syria

Posted by Matt in January 16th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Middle East, Russia

Moscow, Jan 16 (Prensa Latina) One of the Russian companies recently sanctioned by the US, the Machine-building Design Bureau, handed over to Syria the Strelets missile systems it had contracted, Valeri Kashin, chief designer of that firm said Tuesday.
Link to this article.

Russia Pledges Military Cooperation to Ortega’s Nicaragua

Posted by Matt in January 16th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Americas, Russia

Russia will resume military and technical cooperation with Nicaragua, the head of the Russian Audit Chamber, former Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin, told journalists Jan. 12 in Managua.
“The whole Nicaraguan Army and other power agencies use arms and vehicles mostly of the Soviet and Russian production,” Stepashin said. “We do not return to a bare field [...]

Ivanov: Russian Missiles Delivered to Iran

Posted by Matt in January 16th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Iran, Russia

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has confirmed that Russia has sold new anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.
Ivanov told reporters in Moscow Tuesday that Russia has supplied the TOR-M1 air defense missiles, in keeping with a contract between the two countries.
Link to this article.

Report Says US Military Equipment Gets to Iran, China

Posted by Matt in January 16th, 2007 | no comment

Published in China, Iran

A U.S. news agency reports that surplus American military equipment has made its way to Iran and China through unscrupulous dealers and a lack of security in a Defense Department program. VOA’s Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
Link to this article.

Ecuador Turns Left

Posted by Matt in January 16th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Americas, general

Quito, Jan 16 (Prensa Latina) Rafael Correa s inauguration in Ecuador shows on Tuesday a left turn in this Andean country, affected by a decade of decreasing stability, destitution and overthrow of three presidents.
His integrationist proposals challenge world financial organizations and prioritize human beings over capital, making evident his progressive lean, common in todays Latin [...]

Cold War was paradise compared with modern threats - Ivanov

Posted by Matt in January 16th, 2007 | no comment

Published in Russia, general

MOSCOW, January 16 (Itar-Tass) - The world is changing dynamically, and threats to it are increasing at kaleidoscopic rate, Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said at the first session of the Public Council on Tuesday.
“The times of the “Cold War” compared with today were a paradise; all was predictable and calculated [...]